Buick RaceDay 2003

[Roberta]

Well., it's over, glad but sad! The Q16 break was 9.56!!!!
Hope everyone had a good time. More later! Roberta

[68 LeSabre 4dr]

Roberta , Is it later yet ?:Do No: :TU:

[Buick Dave]

:beer After attending the entire 4 day event, it is clear that this event IS one NOT TO MISS!!! In spite if cool days, and drizzle the Staff at Norwalk Raceway Park was spectacular!! We all got to run the track with very few setbacks.
The BBQ on Friday, and the Dinner Sat was great, as were the people in attendence, what a great bunch of people we have attached our selves to.
Arbys is a class act for the car show too!

Kudo's go out to Roberta and Bill, and the countless helpers that seem to just fall in to the right places when they are needed.

I personally will miss "Tweety", :Dou: and i hope to see her back to 100% soon, im just glad the car was the only thing bent and broken.

On that note!!

FANTASTIC JOB!!

GREAT TIME!!

CAN'T WAIT TILL NEXT TIME!

See you all at BG

[Roberta]

We don't get the info from the track til morning, as they were running the Jet Warz til 6:30 this morning. Rich Brouwer won the 2nd chance race, from Lapeer Mi, Dennis Halladay won Bracket 1, Gary Garrett won Q16, and Renee again, Ladies Race! More later, RV

[gs1970455]

ROBERTA!!!!!!!!

Gary Garrett got runner up........Stan Zerucha WON the quick16. The 16 were QUICK QUICK QUICK this year too :)

[Brad Conley]

Renee, Don't you think you better update you signature? :puzzled:

Congrats on the 11 sec pass!!!!:laugh: :beer :beer

[gs1970455]

ooooooooooo Thanks Brad, I updated my signature on the BPG page...quess I better do it here too!!! :):):):):):)

I was hugging people I didn't even know after my first 11.97 :) What a great feeling it is to finally reach a goal that I set! 11's through the exhaust on drag radials.....doesn't get better than that.......at least not for me :):)

GARY FANNING better step it up if he wants to catch me now! (he knows I luv him) :pp

[70 gsconvt]

Who won bracket 2?

[Shayne Dillinge]

Wow, what a great event. I'm not much of a writer but I'll try and throw out some random thoughts, facts and figures.

The track was working great. The Norwalk guys really know what they're doing. I turned a new best 60' time of 1.53 in the rain!! My 60' stayed 1.53 or 1.54 pretty much all weekend. Everyone that I talked to was thrilled with the track. Rumor had it that someone complained to a track offical late Friday that the track had no bite. The story then goes that after the complainer left, the track offical told Bill Wills that they would break his car come Sunday:grin:

I ran a new best time of 11.23 into a pretty good head wind. My eighth mile was a 7.06 so I think I can improve a little with out the wind. Many others also had new best times, Steve Schalter and Dave Smith, Drew Edwards, Renee and Bill Lagna (Sp?) just to name a few.

There was a chassie dyno there and many took advantage. The best run that I watched was Stan & John Zerucha's full chassie 70 GS. Man was that a LOUD pull.

I got to talk to all my old friends as well as meet some new ones. I meet Renee and Denny Moore, Bill and Tony Lagna(Sp?), Phil Seldon and his father and Gary Kubich (Sp?). There where others but I'm still not thinking straight.

I placed second in Fridays race. It's really nice when the promtor tells all the guys in the money just to come right back up so he can pay you.

The only real bummer of the whole event was Sonnys crash. We were very thankful that he was OK, although I would guess he's a little sore today. I think he's very lucky that he didn't roll. It was very hard not to get a little choked up standing there looking at Tweety. It was a very hard hit.

To end on a good note. Norwalk still has the best deal going on icecream. One pound for $1.00. Yum Yum :) .

[BQUICK]

Great event Roberta/Bill....

Do you have contact info for the photograher(s)?

Thanks
Bruce

PS- The JETWARS went to 6:30 Am??, you're pulling my leg:confused:
We left at 11 after Motz sizzled

[MikeM]

You guys and gals know how to have fun. You'll be seeing one of my cars next year. For the time being, we're hunkered down over here trying not to get SARS or give it to anybody else.

Keeping the windows open to get the air flow is creating another annoyance, I'm getting a lot of mosquito bites.

Keep us informed on dates. I plan to be living in usa in 2004.

[Bruce Hunter]

Gang, went to visitSonny this morning, a little sore but o.k. and even cracked a smile, the car is tucked away safely, and we even discussed what to do next to resurect the car, Sonny is a great friend and has helped me for many years, really makes me proud to have friends like him!!

Norwalk was AWSOME, and better than ever! I would like to thank Norwalk staff and especially Bill and Roberta for putting on a wonderful event for all us Buick fans, the show, the racing and the turnout of fine cars was amazing to say the least. this event is undoubtably a premier event to attend.

Thanks BW and RV and all who helped out !!


Bruce

[NOTNSS]

gs1970455 said:ooooooooooo Thanks Brad, I updated my signature on the BPG page...quess I better do it here too!!! :):):):):):)

I was hugging people I didn't even know after my first 11.97 :) What a great feeling it is to finally reach a goal that I set! 11's through the exhaust on drag radials.....doesn't get better than that.......at least not for me :):)

GARY FANNING better step it up if he wants to catch me now! (he knows I luv him) :pp

WAY TO GO RENEE!! :grin:

I won't say "Uncle" just yet but I have a hunch I might never see 11.90s. I'm a full second behind you now. Good in some 'sports'..:laugh: but not drag racing. I guess I'll have to take it to Sacramento to get the most out of it. Or maybe I can find an abandoned mineshaft to drive it down :eek2:

And I can't lie about Vegas this year cuz your Ohio spies will be there. :TU: You should just make the trip to Vegas to put it on me in person; I never did care much for the long-distance relationship thingy:bglasses:

Safe to assume Denny got a hug after you finished up with all the strangers? Kinda like the Direct TV commercial I guess.

Congrats.

[Roberta]

Got all the winners, times etc., will post later tonight if I can stay up long enough to type it correctly, sorry about the confusion with Garrett and Zerucha it was a long exhausting weekend!
Glad everyone had fun and went fast, BW and I had fun too, and are already planning for next year. Thanks to all the helped, participated or just came to watch! More later. RV

[Buick Dave]

Who ever complained was obviously not used to what it takes to hook up, the weather contitions were alot to blame if there "really was a problem" but personally on friday i broke my own 60' with a 1,48.5 in the mist! And on Sunday a record 1.45 flat 60 ft. WHAT A GREAT 4 DAYS OF FUN!! I really cant say that enough!!:stmad: :stmad:

[Roberta]

Buick RaceDay 2003 Results (http://www.mi-buicks.com/Norwalk2003.html)
Send me your pictures and I will post. Left my camera in the room all weekend! Thanks RV Email (buickracer@comcast.net)

[Skyhawk]

A big round of applause :beer to Roberta and Bill for putting this event together!! You guys really did your homework and the result was perfect. The only complaint is that Norwalk is about 10 hours too far west but I can live with that.
I know we are making vacation plans for the begining of May 2004 right now and let me know when we can start booking rooms at the Best Western.
This is a must do event on the Buck calendar next to Englishtown in September and Cecil County in October!:) See everyone at Norwalk next year for the biggest and best event yet!!!:grin:

[GS Kubisch]

Roberta
I told Bill yesterday,now you....THANK YOU!!!!!
This is a GREAT EVENT that I will look forward to for years to come.
You guys do a spectacular job,every year is getting bigger and bigger.

[mrgransport]

Bill and Roberta,
Thanks again for another great event at Norwalk. Top notch as usual!!! I want to thank everyone who helped Leanne and myself get ready for this event. We arrived with 2 non-running cars on Thursday and with the help of Pat DuMaire and his son Kevin we were able to at least get down the track this weekend. The T still needs some suspension work, but they had the motor working real well. I am still experiencing some problems with the GS but at least was able to make the second chance race. Thanks to everyone for their support and input. Hope to see you all next year for an even bigger and better event!

Steve and Leanne Gray

[Roberta]

BQUICK said:Great event Roberta/Bill....

Do you have contact info for the photograher(s)?

Thanks
Bruce

PS- The JETWARS went to 6:30 Am??, you're pulling my leg:confused:
We left at 11 after Motz sizzled

Photograher info:
Jordan's Photo Sports
7835 Hillville Rd
Bluffton, OH 45817
webpage (http://www.jordanphotosports.com)
the track claimed Jet Warz wasn't over til 6:30 AM!
Good to see you Bruce. RV

[stagetwo65]

Fantastic! I had a blast. I know you two work your butts off, but it shows in the results. :TU:

[Topcat]

:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :pp :pp :pp :beer :bglasses: :grin: :grin: :pp :pp :pp :grin: :grin: :grin: :beer :bglasses: Words
cannot describe how much fun Buick Raceday is!
Peace WildBill

[Roberta]

John, and the rest of you, as of this morning, Norwalk Raceway Park is very enthused about the growth of this event, and we have tentatively blocked in the May 1st weekend for 2004. The track management promised to let us know by the end of this week if we/they can work that weekend on their schedule. They are going to do anything they can to lock us into the first weekend in May, forever. as it seems to be the best weekend for alot of folks.We will be working with the GSCA to try to get some room between these events. But that is still in discussion. RV

[9secStage1]

[i]Roberta said they can work that weekend on their schedule. They are going to do anything they can to lock us into the first weekend in May, forever. as it seems to be the best weekend for alot of folks.We will be working with the GSCA to try to get some room between these events. But that is still in discussion. RV

Regardless NORWALK is the event not to miss NO MATTER WHAT!!! Roberta what's to work with? Norwalk dates had and have and are set on the same dates, they will just have to work "around" it, otherwise they may pull less cars as the people that want to go fast, have a great time for LESS cash will go to Norwalk! As the saying goes, "Build it and they will come" Well we came...and we're coming back again in larger numbers! We all had a great time along with the car show! the eats! The racing! Seeing everyone again! Every photo (took over 200 hundred) I took killed me because my car was dead on the trailer. One ray of hope is next year. Now I guess those aluminum heads will be installed, I just have to get her down from the 9.80's to the 9.40's to make sure I'm under the bump.

Roberta and Bill, great job!
Rick Martinez

[GS Kubisch]

OK....NO excuses next ear I will be around earlier than just Sunday...too many people I want to see and it is just so hard when your racing,I plan to make it out 2 or 3days next year instead of just one.

[gs1970455]

About time Gary that you decided to come for more than just the race. You need to hang out with all of us at the hotels and drink slushies :) It's really a great time to hang out and have fun with the people that you miss throughout the winter :grin:

I'm still all excited about my great running street car :grin: :grin: :)

[Roberta]

We will have hotels confirmed around June 13, as I will be back at Norwalk Raceway Park for the Factory Stock Drag Race (http://hometown.aol.com/lamgmt/myhomepage/business.html) with the '68 GS400 convertible, 4-speed. Had a wonderful time there last year, have to go back! More as soon as it becomes available! RV

http://members.aol.com/shark1335/images/buick&gto.jpg

[BQUICK]

Any pictures ready yet Roberta? Rick?

Bruce

[9secStage1]

BQUICK said:Any pictures ready yet Roberta? Rick?

Bruce

Hope ya like this one.
Rick

[BQUICK]

Rick, THANKS!
Kinda twisted....
Gotta work on getting the pass side up.....I popped an air bag before my first run so fixing it may help.

Never turned a tire at Norwalk.....back to slippin and slidin at the local track this weekend.

Do post motem yet on your motor?

Bruce

[Roberta]

Pictures of the show coming tonight, Jamie had a CD for me today!
Norwalk Pictures and results (http://www.mi-buicks.com/Norwalk2003.html)

[9secStage1]

BQUICK said:Rick, THANKS!
Kinda twisted....
Gotta work on getting the pass side up.....I popped an air bag before my first run so fixing it may help.

Never turned a tire at Norwalk.....back to slippin and slidin at the local track this weekend.

Do post motem yet on your motor?

Bruce

Bruce,

Not good at all. The mallory weight plug that was welded into the crank apparently was NOT prepped correctly thus flew out nicked a rod (not badly), cracked the sleave on #1 cylinder which I hoped could be re-sleaved...but I took the motor down to the short block and discovered when it hit the #1 cylinder it also broke part of the block next to the exhaust side lifter bore. The roller lifter was untouched but the bore at the botton is chipped and cracked. I just hope now the roller cam is not damaged, I didn't take it out yet, but what I can see it looks OK. SO the block is JUNK! Not bad for 18 passes hey....not a happy camper. Not sure what I will do as of now. All of that machine work wasted. Thinking of going back to basics, doing the engine myself. It seemed when I did they lasted a lot longer. Just have to locate a good machine shop now.

-On the plus side is I will be switching to aluminum heads, now all I need is a short block.

Rick

[Roberta]

Buick Race Day 2004, April 30, test and tune and gamblers race and May 1 show, May 2 "THE FASTEST BUICK RACE IN THE WORLD!"


RV

:bglasses: :grin: :laugh:FLyer (http://www.mi-buicks.com/Norwalk/norw2004.htm)

[Gr8ScatFan]

I know its an old thread but how many Buicks made it to the 7's? In the pictures on the website I saw Jim Dotsons car as well as David Busher's car. Just wondering?

Steve

[9secStage1]

Regarding a Buick V-8 powered full bodied car, only one Buick, Scotty of Pee Gee Performance. Ran in the 7's in a late model Regal. That's it for the big block V-8 boys. There has been a few in the 8's but none were close.

Rick

[Gr8ScatFan]

Do you know how fast John Massouds car has been running lately and what about Chilenski?

Steve

P.S. Did I spell Chilenski right?

[9secStage1]

John was running in the 9.90's and having problems with low oil pressure, so he called it a day early. Rob Chilenski was running in the mid 9.60's. During the Q-16 eliminations he blew the trans. Bill Lagna with the '68 Sport Wagon was running 10.30's until the engine let go big time (cracked the block).

Word has it Rob will also be switching to aluminum heads next year. He told me that he wants to hit the high 9.40's at Cecil or very low 9.50's before calling it a day with the iron heads.

My days are done with the iron heads at 9.82. Next Spring early I'll be out all fresh engine with aluminum heads, thanks to Stage 1 Auto, Tri-Shield Performance and of course TA.

My iron heads are for sale but if no takers by late fall they are going on a fresh engine in the Centurion tow car, which I already started. I miss that fun on the street :grin: I'll be gunning for Yardley :shock:

Rick

[Gr8ScatFan]

Can I get some info on those heads? They must be good if they were on a nine second car.

Steve

[stagetwo65]

Steve, I have it on good authority that Rick's heads are likely the best iron Stage1 heads in the country. Numbers don't lie!

[Gr8ScatFan]

stagetwo65 said:Steve, I have it on good authority that Rick's heads are likely the best iron Stage1 heads in the country. Numbers don't lie!

No they don't lie. That car runs in the nines. Something else cool is that Rick lives where John Csordas lives. Two of the fastest Buicks in the country, in one city. I bet they get acknowledgement by the people there.

Steve

[stagetwo65]

I should clarify. I didn't mean ET numbers, I meant flow numbers on the heads. Rick's are better than any I've ever heard of.

[Gr8ScatFan]

How much do they flow?

Steve

[stagetwo65]

Almost 300 cfm. Fantastic for Stage1 heads!

[Roberta]

Q16 Eliminations at Buick RaceDay 2003 at Norwalk 33 cars ran to qualify with the break being 9.54!
First Round Winners(that the track had names in the computer):
Gary Garrett '91 Century 9.527 14.04
Eric Shuertz '87 T 9.966 113.65
Mark Jackson '87 GN 9.645 137.65
Chris White '86 T-type 8.56 163.54
Doug Hecker '65 Gran Sport 9.401 143.32
Stan Zerucha '70 Skylark 9.621 131.74

Finals:
Stan Zerucha .505 9.55 9.551 138.00
Gary Garrett .521 9.52 9.563 143.05

Hence the "FASTEST BUICK RACE IN THE WORLD!"
Big Blocks Rule, but Turbos are Cool!

Dotson ran a 8.085 on a 7.97 dial in the first round and lost to Doug Hecker


RV

[stagetwo65]

What a FUN weekend Roberta!:TU:

[9secStage1]

Roberta said:Q16 Eliminations at Buick RaceDay 2003 at Norwalk 33 cars ran to qualify with the break being 9.54!
First Round Winners(that the track had names in the computer):
Gary Garrett '91 Century 9.527 14.04
Eric Shuertz '87 T 9.966 113.65
Mark Jackson '87 GN 9.645 137.65
Chris White '86 T-type 8.56 163.54
Doug Hecker '65 Gran Sport 9.401 143.32
Stan Zerucha '70 Skylark 9.621 131.74

Finals:
Stan Zerucha .505 9.55 9.551 138.00
Gary Garrett .521 9.52 9.563 143.05

Hence the "FASTEST BUICK RACE IN THE WORLD!"
Big Blocks Rule, but Turbos are Cool!

Dotson ran a 8.085 on a 7.97 dial in the first round and lost to Doug Hecker
RV


HHMMMMM..."Bigger and... ah....Faster!!!!!!:TU:

Roberta I had a bigger and better time there this year and no doubt it will be even better and faster in '04! I'll be there in '04 with an all new combo with the help and huge thanks to Rob Chilenski of Stage 1 Auto, Jim Weise of Tri-Shield Performance and Mike Tomaszewski of TA Performance, and Doug Hecker for the much needed moral support to keep the goal in focus! I am looking to run well into the pack! Not quoting numbers yet, but let's say considerably faster. Doug and I plan on a re-match in the spring at Norwalk. Hell maybe I'll get to line up against the TA Wagon at Salem next August, unless Doug puts him on the trailer first:grin:

-Rick:beer
You have to check out the finals beter as Stan Zerucha won the Q16 for the second time at a Buick Raceday at Norwalk!!

[Gr8ScatFan]

Roberta said: Dotson ran a 8.085 on a 7.97 dial in the first round and lost to Doug Hecker


RV

Dotsons car is sweet. He knows his way around a 231. Also I see that a '91 Century won the Super 16 event. I have never heard of any late model Buick running this fast except for Scotty Guadagno.

[Gr8ScatFan]

Gr8ScatFan said:Dotsons car is sweet. He knows his way around a 231. Also I see that a '91 Century won the Super 16 event. I have never heard of any late model Buick running this fast except for Scotty Guadagno.

Actually it was the '70 Skylark that won.